Coaxial cable antenna for communication with implanted medical devices

ABSTRACT

In general, the invention is directed to a coaxial cable antenna for use in an external device, such as a programmer or monitor, to enhance communication between the external device and an implanted medical device (IMD). The coaxial cable antenna provides the external device with polarization diversity. For example, the coaxial cable antenna includes a first portion and a second portion that are substantially perpendicular to one another. Each of the portions of the coaxial cable antenna has a different polarization orientation, thus providing the programmer with polarization diversity. Further, the external device may include more than one coaxial cable antenna to provide the external device with spatial diversity as well as polarization diversity provided by the coaxial cable antenna design. The coaxial cable antenna configurations reduce problems associated with polarization mismatches, antenna nulls, and multi-path propagation interference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to wireless communication between animplanted medical device (IMD) and an external programmer or monitorand, more particularly, to antennas for use with the external programmeror monitor.

BACKGROUND

[0002] An implanted medical device (IMD) and an external device, such asa programmer or monitor, exchange information via wirelesscommunication. For example, the external device typically transmitscommands to the IMD. In addition, the IMD transmits stored informationor sensed physiological parameters to the external device.

[0003] The external device typically includes a programming headcontaining an antenna for wireless communication with an antenna in theIMD. In operation, the programming head is placed in close proximity tothe IMD to establish data communication with the IMD.

SUMMARY

[0004] In general, the invention is directed to a coaxial cable antennafor use in an external device, such as a programmer or monitor, toenhance communication between the external device and an implantedmedical device (IMD).

[0005] In accordance with the invention, the external device includestwo coaxial cable antennas for communication with the IMD. The coaxialcable antenna is constructed to provide polarization diversity, whichallows the antenna to operate effectively in different planes. In orderto achieve polarization diversity, the two antennas are arrangedorthogonal to one another. The external device includes the two coaxialcable antennas to provide the external device with spatial diversity aswell as polarization diversity provided by the coaxial cable antennadesign. For example, a programmer for an IMD includes a first coaxialcable antenna, a second coaxial cable antenna, and a receiver thatreceives signals from the IMD via one of the first or the other coaxialcable antennas. The programmer includes a display, and the coaxial cableantennas are mounted within a housing of the display to protect thecoaxial cable antennas from the surrounding environment. In other words,the display housing is part of and protects the coaxial cable antennasfrom incidental contact that could otherwise bend or break the antennas.

[0006] The coaxial cable antennas can be mounted proximate upper cornersof the display. Specifically, the first coaxial cable antenna is locatedproximate a top left corner of the display and the second coaxial cableantenna is located proximate a top right corner of the display. Each ofthe coaxial cable antennas includes a first portion substantiallyparallel to a side of the display and a second portion substantiallyparallel to a top of the display. The portion of each coaxial cableantennas parallel with the side of the display has a first polarizationand the portion of each coaxial cable antennas parallel with the top ofthe display has a second polarization. In other words, each of theportions of the coaxial cable antennas has a different polarizationorientation, thus providing the programmer with polarization diversity.

[0007] In addition, the coaxial cable antennas are spaced approximatelyhalf of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatialdiversity. However, the coaxial cable antennas could be spacedapproximately one-quarter of a wavelength apart from one another. Inthis manner, the coaxial cable antennas receive signals from the IMDover multiple different receive paths providing a programmer or monitorwith spatial diversity as well as the polarization diversity provided bythe coaxial cable antenna design.

[0008] Each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a center conductorthat carries signals received from the IMD or signals to be transmittedto the IMD, surrounded by an insulator and an outer conductive claddingsurrounding the center conductor. In accordance with the invention, aportion of the outer conductive cladding is removed to expose theinsulator of the coaxial cable antenna.

[0009] The portion of the removed outer conductive cladding is locatednear a midpoint of the coaxial cable antennas. Further, a portion of theexposed insulator is removed to expose the center conductor of coaxialcable antennas. A resistor and a capacitor are connected between thecenter conductor and the outer conductive cladding.

[0010] The capacitor is connected between the center conductor and theouter conductive cladding in order to adjust the voltage standing waveratio (VSWR) at an operating frequency of the coaxial cable antennas.The resistor is also connected between the center conductor and theouter conductive cladding to lower the quality factor (Q) of the coaxialcable antennas, in turn, increasing the bandwidth of the coaxial cableantennas.

[0011] Each coaxial cable antenna further includes a hole that extendsthrough the outer conductive cladding and cuts through the centerconductor at a specific location to tune the operating frequency of thecoaxial cable antenna. The hole may be placed such that the operatingfrequency of the coaxial cable antennas tune to approximately 400Megahertz (MHz) and, more specifically, approximately 403 MHz.

[0012] In one embodiment, the invention provides an external device thatcommunicates with an implanted medical device, the external devicecomprising a first coaxial cable antenna, a second coaxial cableantenna, and a receiver that receives signals from the implanted medicaldevice via at least one of the first and second coaxial cable antennas.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an externaldevice that communicates with an implanted medical device, the externaldevice comprising a plurality of coaxial cable antennas, a receiver toreceive signals from the implanted medical device via at least one ofthe coaxial cable antennas, and a device housing, the coaxial cableantennas mounted within the device housing.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a methodcomprising receiving signals from an implanted medical device via aplurality of coaxial cable antennas and processing the signals from theimplanted medical device to analyze information from the implantedmedical device.

[0015] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otheradvances and inventive aspects of the invention will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram illustrating an external devicethat communicates with an implantable medical device (IMD) implantedwithin a patient.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the programmer of FIG. 1 ingreater detail.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display of aprogrammer with a front portion of a housing removed to illustrate aninterior of the display.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a coaxial cable antennain accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram illustrating an external device,e.g., a programmer 10, that communicates with an implantable medicaldevice (IMD) 12 implanted within a patient 14. In accordance with theinvention, programmer 10 includes coaxial cable antennas 16A and 16B(hereinafter 16) arranged to provide programmer 10 with spatial as wellas polarization diversity. Programmer 10 transmits commands to IMD 12and receives stored operational information and physiologicalinformation from IMD 12.

[0021] IMD 12 may be an implantable pulse generator (IPG), e.g., apacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). However,programmer 10 may be used to communicate with any type of IMD 12. Otherexamples of IMD 12 include an implantable brain stimulator, animplantable gastric system stimulator, an implantable nerve stimulatoror muscle stimulator, an implantable lower colon stimulator, urinarytract stimulator, an implantable drug or beneficial agent dispenser orpump, an implantable cardiac signal loop or other type of recorder ormonitor, an implantable gene therapy delivery device, an implantableincontinence prevention or monitoring device, an implantable insulinpump or monitoring device, and the like.

[0022] Further, although described in terms of a programmer 10 forpurposes of illustration, the antenna configurations described hereinmay be used in other external devices that communicate with an IMD 12such as a patient monitoring device, which may not have programmingcapabilities. In each case, the external device communicates with IMD 12to obtain operational and physiological information. IMD 12 collectsoperational information and physiological information. Depending on thetype of IMD 12, the physiological information may include heart rate,heart rate variability, blood glucose levels, oxygen saturation, partialpressure of oxygen in the blood, blood pressure, baro-reflex measures,electrogram morphologies, lung wetness, and the like.

[0023] A user (not shown) of programmer 10, such as a clinician orphysician, interacts with programmer 10 and IMD 12 via an input medium,such as keyboard 18, and a display 20. More specifically, programmer 10provides a user interface that the user interacts with to provide datato programmer 10. Display 20 may for example, be a Cathode Ray Tube(CRT) display, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light-Emitting Diode (LED)display, a plasma display or the like. In some embodiments, programmer10 also includes a pointing device, such as a mouse, via which the userinteracts with the user interface. Further, programmer 10 may include atouch screen or other similar input medium to interact with the user.

[0024] Programmer 10 is in wireless communication with IMD 12.Programmer 10 communicates with IMD 12 by wireless transmission viacoaxial cable antennas 16, constructed in accordance with the invention.Coaxial cable antennas 16 are mounted within a housing 24 of display 20to protect coaxial cable antennas 16 from the surrounding environment.In other words, housing 24 of display 20 prevents coaxial cable antennas16 from incidental contact that may otherwise bend or break antennasexternal to programmer 10. In some embodiments, coaxial cable antennas16 may be external coaxial cable antennas coaxial cable antennasconnected to programmer 10 via a cable. Housing 24 to which coaxialcable antennas 16 are mounted is fabricated from a non-conductivematerial, such as plastic. Display 24 also includes a conductivebackplane that is constructed of a metal or metalized plastic. As willbe described, coaxial cable antennas 16 are arranged to provide spatialdiversity as well as polarization diversity, in turn allowing programmer10 to communicate with IMD 12 from several feet or meters away. Coaxialcable antennas 16 reduce problems associated with polarizationmismatches, antenna nulls, and multi-path interference.

[0025] Programmer 10 interrogates IMD 12 to retrieve measured data,along with currently programmed parameters and optimization targetvalues stored by IMD 12 via coaxial cable antennas 16. If IMD 12 is apacemaker, the data retrieved includes data reflecting electricalactivity sensed in heart 22, the output of various other sensors of IMD12, such as one or more sensors used to control the rate response of IMD12, and the rate response of IMD 12 over time. Programmer 10 displayssome or all of these items to the user via display 20. The user furtherprograms or reprograms IMD 12 via the user interface and input medium,e.g., keyboard 18. For example, the user provides or adjusts rateresponse parameters or target values of IMD 12 via the user interfaceand input medium, which are then relayed by programmer 10 to IMD 12 viaa transmitter and coaxial cable antennas 16.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating programmer 10 in greaterdetail. As shown in FIG. 2, programmer 10 includes a processor 30, aradio frequency (RF) module 31, an antenna switch 33 controlled via areceived signal strength indicator (RSSI) 35 and coaxial cable antennas16A and 16B (hereinafter 16). As mentioned above, programmer 10 is inwireless communication with IMD 12. Particularly, programmer 10transmits and receives signals to and from IMD 12 via coaxial cableantennas 16. Coaxial cable antennas 16 are spaced substantially half ofa wavelength, but could work with one quarter of a wavelength, from oneanother to receive signals from IMD 12 over multiple receive pathsproviding programmer 10 with receive diversity, thereby reducingmulti-path propagation interference as well as antenna nulls. Forexample, coaxial cable antenna 16A provides a first receive path andcoaxial cable antenna 16B provides a second receive path. More than twocoaxial cable antennas 16 may be provided in some embodiments forenhanced receive diversity.

[0027] Programmer 10 selects, via antenna switch 33 and RF module 31,the receive path with the strongest signal. More specifically, RF module31 includes a receiver 32 and RSSI 35 that selects the receive path withthe strongest signal. Processor 30 receives data collected by IMD 12 andcurrently programmed parameters from IMD 12 via receiver 32 and one ofcoaxial cable antennas 16 and processes the data. RF module 31 furtherincludes a transmitter 34, which allows programmer 10 to program IMD 12,e.g., to program new parameters and/or optimization target values of IMD12, via coaxial cable antennas 16. Programmer 10 transmits signals toIMD 12 via one of coaxial cable antennas 16. Although in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2 RF module 31 includes distinct components forreceiving and transmitting signals, i.e., receiver 32 and transmitter34, RF module 31 may include a single transceiver component thatincludes receive circuitry as well as transmit circuitry.

[0028] As discussed above, programmer 10 provides a user interface 36 bywhich a user of programmer 10, such as a clinician or physician,interacts with programmer 10 and IMD 12. In the example of FIG. 2, userinterface 36 is a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on display20. A user interacts with user interface 36 via display 20 and at leastone input medium such as keyboard 18, a pointing device, e.g., mouse, ora touch screen. A memory 38 stores program code that causes processor 30to drive user interface 36, and the functionality ascribed to userinterface 36. Memory 38 may include any fixed or removable magnetic oroptical media, such as RAM, ROM, CD-ROM, hard or floppy magnetic disks,EEPROM, or the like.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating display 20 with a frontportion of housing 24 removed to illustrate the interior of display 20.Display 20 includes coaxial cable antennas 16A and 16B (hereinafter 16),connectors 42A and 42B (hereinafter 42), and a casting 44. As describedabove, coaxial cable antennas 16 are located within non-conductivehousing 24 to protect coaxial cable antennas 16 from inadvertent damagecaused by the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, coaxialcable antennas 16 are attached to housing 24 via one or more fasteners.Housing 24 further covers casting 44 to protect casting 44 from thesurrounding environment. As described above, housing 24 is constructedfrom a non-conductive material such as plastic. In some embodiments,casting 44 is constructed of a conductive material, e.g., metal, andelectromagnetically couples to coaxial cable antennas 16 in order to aidin tuning and impedance matching.

[0030] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, coaxial cable antennas16 are mounted proximate top corners of display 20. Specifically,coaxial cable antenna 16A is located proximate a top left corner ofdisplay 20 and coaxial cable antenna 16B is located proximate a topright corner of display 20. Coaxial cable antennas 16 are substantiallyL-shaped to fit in the respective corners of display 20 and producepolarization diversity as described herein. In other words, each ofcoaxial cable antennas 16 includes a first portion 46 substantiallyparallel to a side of display 20 and a second portion 48 substantiallyparallel to a top of display 20 in accordance with the invention.Portion 46 of coaxial cable antennas 16 has a first polarization andportion 48 of coaxial cable antennas 16 has a second polarization. Morespecifically, portion 46 of coaxial cable antennas 16 has a horizontalelliptical or circular polarization (indicated by arrow 52), whileportion 48 of coaxial cable antennas 16 has a vertical elliptical orcircular polarization (indicated by arrow 54). In this manner, coaxialcable antennas 16 provide programmer 10 with polarization diversity. Inother words, programmer 10 and, more particularly coaxial cable antennas16, receive and transmit signals with horizontal polarization as well asvertical polarization, thus reducing antenna pattern nulls due topolarization mismatches.

[0031] Coaxial cable antennas 16 are further spaced a fraction of awavelength, e.g., half of a wavelength, apart from one another toachieve spatial diversity. Coaxial cable antennas 16 may, for example,be spaced one-quarter of a wavelength apart from one another. In thismanner, coaxial cable antennas 16 receive signals from IMD 12 overmultiple receive paths, providing programmer 10 with spatial andpolarization diversity, and thereby reducing multi-path propagationinterference and antenna nulls. In contrast to wands and otherprogrammer heads that are generally placed in close proximity to thebody of the patient to communicate with IMD 12, the diversityarrangement of coaxial cable antennas 16, e.g., the spatial andpolarization diversity, enable reception of signals from IMD 12 overextended distances such as several feet or meters from the IMD 12

[0032] Coaxial cable antennas 16 are attached to connectors 42 in orderto conductively connect coaxial cable antennas 16 with RF module 31.More specifically, connectors 42 connect a center conductor of coaxialcable antennas 16 with receiver 32 or transmitter 34 via RSSI 35. Inthis manner, signals received by coaxial cable antennas 16 from IMD 12are relayed to RF module 31 and signals from RF module 31 are relayed tocoaxial cable antennas 16 for transmission to IMD 12.

[0033]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a coaxial cable antenna16 in further detail. Coaxial cable antenna 16 is connected via aconnector 40 to RF module 31 and, more particularly, to receiver 32,transmitter 34 or a transceiver of RF module 31. Coaxial cable antenna16 includes a first portion 46 and a second portion 48 that aresubstantially perpendicular to one another to provide polaritydiversity. As described above, portion 46 of coaxial cable antenna 16 issubstantially parallel with a side of display 20 and portion 48 ofcoaxial cable antenna 16 is substantially parallel with a top of display20. In this manner, coaxial cable antenna 16 radiate and tune signalswith different polarizations, which permits display 20 to be oriented innumerous ways with respect to IMD 12. More specifically, portion 46provides coaxial cable antenna 16 with a horizontal elliptical orcircular polarization, while portion 48 of coaxial cable antenna 16provides a vertical elliptical or circular polarization.

[0034] Coaxial cable antenna 16 includes a center conductor 56 thatcarries signals received from IMD 12 or signals to be transmitted to IMD12. An insulator 58 and an outer conductive cladding 60 surround centerconductor 56. Insulator 58 isolates center conductor 56 from electricalinterference as well as from outer conductive cladding 60. The thicknessof insulator 58 varies depending on the type of coaxial cable used toconstruct coaxial cable antennas 16 and provides coaxial cable antennas16 with a characteristic impedance. Conductive cladding 60 may serve asa ground in order to reduce the amount of electrical and radio frequencyinterference experienced by center conductor 56. Center conductor 56 andconductive cladding 60 may be constructed of conductive materials suchas copper, platinum, aluminum and the like. Insulator 58 may beconstructed of materials such as PTFE, polyvinyl, polypropylene or thelike.

[0035] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 4, a portion of outerconductive cladding 60 is removed to expose insulator 58 of coaxialcable antenna 16. The portion of outer conductive cladding 60 that isremoved may be located at a midpoint of coaxial cable antenna 16. In theexample of FIG. 4, the portion of outer conductive cladding 60 isremoved near the respective upper corner of display 20, i.e., proximatethe intersection of portion 46 of coaxial cable antenna 16 that issubstantially parallel with a side of display 20 and portion 48 ofcoaxial cable antenna 16 that is substantially parallel with a top ofdisplay 20.

[0036] Further, a portion of exposed insulator 58 is removed to exposecenter conductor 56 of coaxial cable antenna 16. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4, the portion of insulator 58 removed isapproximately at a midpoint of coaxial cable antenna 16, i.e., near therespective upper corner of display 20. A resistor 62 and a capacitor 64are coupled to center conductor 56. More particularly, resistor 62 andcapacitor 64 are connected between center conductor 56 and outerconductive cladding 60. Capacitor 64 connects to center conductor 56 inorder to adjust the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) at the center ofan operating frequency of coaxial cable antenna 16. Resistor 62 connectsto center conductor 56 to lower the quality factor (Q) of coaxial cableantenna 16, in turn, widening the antenna bandwidth in order to achievesimpler matching of coaxial cable antenna 16 and receiver 32 and/ortransmitter 34 of RF module 31.

[0037] Coaxial cable antenna 16 further includes an end portion 68,which exposes center conductor 56. Coaxial cable antenna 16 can be shearcut to give coaxial cable antenna 16 a particular length. Coaxial cableantenna 16 further includes a hole 66 cutting open center conductor 56to tune the operating frequency of coaxial cable antenna 16. Hole 66 maybe formed, for example, by drilling through coaxial cable antenna 16until center conductor 56 is cut, but stopping before drilling throughthe other side of outer conductive cladding 60. Hole 66 may be locatedbetween end portion 68 and the removed portion of outer conductivecladding 60. Placement of hole 66 nearer end portion 68 results in alower operating frequency than placement of hole 66 near the removedportion of outer conductive cladding 60. Hole 66 may be placed such thatthe operating frequency of coaxial cable antenna 16 is approximately 400Megahertz (MHz) and, more specifically, approximately 403 MHz. Thelength of each coaxial cable antennas 16 is based on the desiredoperating frequency of coaxial cable antennas 16.

[0038] Various embodiments of the invention have been described. Forexample, coaxial cable antennas 16 may be located within a patientmonitor that does not have programming capabilities. Coaxial cableantennas 16 may be located within a separate device and attached toprogrammer 10 via a cable or other connection. Further, althoughdescribed in terms of an operating frequency of approximately 400 MHz,the coaxial cable antennas of the invention may be scaled in size tooperate at different frequencies. These and other embodiments are withinthe scope of the following claims.

1. A device to communicate with an implanted medical device, the device comprising: a first coaxial cable antenna; a second coaxial cable antenna; and a receiver that receives signals from the implanted medical device via at least one of the first and second coaxial cable antennas.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter that transmits signals to the implanted medical device via at least one of the first and second coaxial cable antennas.
 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display to convey data received from the implanted medical device to a user.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the display includes a display housing, and the coaxial cable antennas are mounted within the housing.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second coaxial cable antennas are located in apposition to one another.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a first portion in substantially parallel orientation with a side of the display and a second portion in substantially parallel orientation with another side of the display.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes an outer conductive cladding, and a portion of the outer conductive cladding is removed to expose an insulator of the coaxial cable antenna.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a center conductor, and wherein a portion of the exposed insulator is removed to expose the center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna.
 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a resistor connected between the exposed center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna and the outer conductive cladding of the coaxial cable antenna.
 10. The device of claim 8, further comprising a capacitor connected between the exposed center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna and the outer conductive cladding of the coaxial cable antenna.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas comprises a hole that extends partially through coaxial cable antenna to cut through the center conductor of the coaxial cable antennas in order to tune an operating frequency of the antenna.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes an center portion that exposes a center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable antennas are spaced a fraction of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatial diversity.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the coaxial cable antennas are spaced substantially one-half of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatial diversity.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein an operating frequency of the coaxial cable antennas is approximately 403 megahertz.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a programmer for the implanted medical device.
 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a patient monitor for the implanted medical device.
 18. A device to communicate with an implanted medical device, the device comprising: a plurality of coaxial cable antennas; a receiver to receive signals from the implanted medical device via at least one of the coaxial cable antennas; and a device housing, the coaxial cable antennas mounted within the device housing.
 19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a transmitter that transmits signals to the implanted medical device via at least one of the coaxial cable antennas.
 20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a display to convey program data to a user, and wherein the external device housing comprises a display housing.
 21. The device of claim 18, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas include an outer conductive cladding, and a portion of the outer conductive cladding is removed to expose an insulator of the coaxial cable antenna.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas include a center conductor, and wherein a portion of the exposed insulator is removed to expose the center conductor of each of the coaxial cable antennas.
 23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a resistor connected between the exposed center conductor of each of the coaxial cable antennas and the outer conductive cladding of each of the coaxial cable antennas.
 24. The device of claim 22, further comprising a capacitor coupled between the exposed center conductor of each of the coaxial cable antennas and the outer conductive cladding of each of the coaxial cable antennas.
 25. The device of claim 18, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas comprise a hole that extends partially through coaxial cable antenna to cut a center conductor in order to tune an operating frequency of the antenna.
 26. The device of claim 18, wherein each the coaxial cable antennas includes a middle portion that exposes a center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna.
 27. The device of claim 18, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a first portion and a second portion that are substantially perpendicular to one another to achieve polarization diversity.
 28. The device of claim 18, wherein the coaxial cable antennas are spaced a portion of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatial diversity.
 29. The device of claim 18, wherein the external device comprises a programmer for the implanted medical device.
 30. The device of claim 18, wherein the external device comprises a patient monitor for the implanted medical device.
 31. A method comprising: receiving signals from an implanted medical device via a plurality of coaxial cable antennas; and processing the signals from the implanted medical device to analyze information from the implanted medical device.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting signals to the implanted medical device via at least one of the coaxial cable antennas.
 33. The method of claim 31, further comprising displaying the information from the implanted medical device to a user via a display.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the display includes a display housing, and the coaxial cable antennas are mounted within the display housing.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein a first coaxial cable antenna is located proximate a top left corner of the display housing and a second coaxial cable antennas is located proximate a top right corner of the display housing.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a first portion substantially parallel with a side of the display and a second portion substantially parallel with a top of the display.
 37. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes an outer conductive cladding, and a portion of the outer conductive cladding is removed to expose an insulator of the coaxial cable antenna.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas includes a center conductor, and wherein a portion of the exposed insulator is removed to expose the center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising a resistor connected between the exposed center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna and the outer conductive cladding of the coaxial cable antenna.
 40. The method of claim 38, further comprising a capacitor connected between the exposed center conductor of the coaxial cable antenna and the outer conductive cladding of the coaxial cable antenna.
 41. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the coaxial cable antennas comprises a hole that extends partially through coaxial cable antenna to cut through the center conductor in order to tune an operating frequency of the antenna.
 42. The method of claim 31, wherein the coaxial cable antennas are spaced a fraction of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatial diversity.
 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the coaxial cable antennas are spaced one-half of a wavelength apart from one another to achieve spatial diversity.
 44. The method of claim 31, further comprising: receiving program parameters from a user; and transmitting the program parameters to the implanted medical device via the coaxial cable antennas.
 45. The method of claim 31 wherein the operating frequency of the antennas is adaptable to any frequency by scaling the size of the antennas. 